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Smiley Face Water Tower in Atlanta, Illinois

Here’s a quick photo that will surely make you smile: this is the smiley face water tower in Atlanta, Illinois! This water tower must be really happy to live in this midwestern town! But, I mean, with its prominent place on Route 66, who wouldn’t be!

Smiley Face Water Tower in Atlanta, Illinois

This smiley water tower is located on Route 66 in Atlanta, Illinois. The water tower is painted a bright canary yellow with two black dots for eyes and a beaming smile. It gives a warm welcome to those visiting the rural town, driving the Mother Road, stopping by to check out the giant muffler man with a hot dog, visiting the gas station muffler man head, or grabbing lunch at The Palms Grill Cafe.

The water tower was painted bright yellow and given a silly smiley face in 2003, the same year the famous Atlanta muffler man was moved in in honor of the town’s 150th birthday, costing $175,000.

If you love this Illinois roadside attraction, you might want to check out another painted water tower on your next road trip: the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville.

Route 66 Smiley Face Water Tower

Location: 407 SW 2nd St, Atlanta, IL 61723
Cost: Free to see.
Hours: Always visible.
Date of photo: July 15, 2007

VALerie BROMANN

Founder & Head Road Tripper

Val is the founder and head road tripper at Silly America. Having grown up near Berwyn's famed car kabob, The Spindle, and a restaurant with a cow on its roof, her fascination with roadside attractions started early. Today, Val has visited hundreds roadside attractions across the United States and is constantly on the lookout for the next BIG thing!

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book - Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip! By Valerie Bromann

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip!

BY Valerie Bromann

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

The road trip you’ve been dreaming of starts here! Journal about your stops and get to know your fellow passengers with activities and exercises designed to pass the time and bring you closer together. Instead of “Are we there yet?” you’ll find yourself asking, “We’re there already?”. Complete with prompts you can turn to while driving between locations, this journal will one day be a memento of your life-changing trip.